President Donald Trump accused The New York Times on Saturday of inventing a source for a story who, in fact, was a White House official conducting a briefing for reporters under the condition that the official not be named.
Trump tweeted that the Times quoted an official “who doesn’t exist” and referenced a line in the story about a possible summit with North Korea, which read: “a senior White House official told reporters that even if the meeting were reinstated, holding it on June 12 would be impossible, given the lack of time and the amount of planning needed.”
Said Trump: “WRONG AGAIN! Use real people, not phony sources.”
The Failing @nytimes quotes “a senior White House official,” who doesn’t exist, as saying “even if the meeting were reinstated, holding it on June 12 would be impossible, given the lack of time and the amount of planning needed.” WRONG AGAIN! Use real people, not phony sources.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 26, 2018
The Times reported in a story about the tweet that it had cited “a senior White House official speaking to a large group of reporters in the White House briefing room.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
2. To be clear, the only reason I tweeted Matt's name is because I'm not a White House reporter and I was not on this call. I do not believe reporters should violate off record or on background agreements under any circumstances. Not my agreement, so I can tweet.
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) May 26, 2018
4. I've obtained audio of the WH press briefing. You can hear Raj Shah, Deputy Press Secretary, introduce Pottinger (along with the terms – which are standard) and then Pottinger makes the statement that POTUS says was never made. Lots of reporters in briefing room and on phone. pic.twitter.com/2gEYkRSyTv
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) May 26, 2018
Trump says reporters made up a person who doesn’t exist. You note that the person exists. Defenders: “He’s saying the Times misquoted the person.” https://t.co/TrPUUviMb8
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) May 26, 2018
Trump has repeatedly criticized the use of unnamed sources and labeled information related by unnamed officials “fake news.” Still, his White House regularly arranges briefings with officials who demand anonymity before relaying information, a practice also used by previous administrations.
While Trump asserted the official did not exist, he also took issue with how the Times paraphrased the remarks. When asked at the briefing, which was attended by The Associated Press, if it was possible for the summit to go forward by June 12, the official cast doubt, but did not give a definitive answer.
“I think that the main point, I suppose, is that the ball is in North Korea’s court right now. There’s really not a lot of time,” the official said. “There’s a certain amount of actual dialogue that needs to take place at the working level with your counterparts to ensure that the agenda is clear in the minds of those two leaders when they sit down to actually meet and talk and negotiate and hopefully make a deal. And June 12 is in ten minutes.”
The White House press office invited reporters to the background briefing, both to attend in person or to call-in and insisted that the official not be named. The AP reporter in attendance questioned why the briefing was not on the record — meaning that the official’s name could be used. The official said the president had been talking publicly during the day, as well as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and that the briefing was intended to provide “background context.”
(AP)
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8 Responses
So basically to say that a senior White House official said June 12 is impossible is not true. No one ever said that. Hence The NY Times story is fake news as usual. They misconstrue the facts even if ever so slightly to give a certain impression. And if the official you’re quoting didn’t say what your saying he said then “your source doesn’t exist”. It’s the same thing. So not only is the times making up stories but when they’re called out on it they get technical about it and say “yea he does exist”. But that wasn’t trumps point.
More propaganda and lies. The person who supposedly said the June 12 date is impossible DOESN’T EXIST. Someone at the meeting leaked a recording, so we know exactly what Matt Pottinger said, and we know he did NOT say what the NYT reported. He did not say the date was impossible, or anything implying that. The NYT simply made it up, and you are helping them cover up their imcompetence and lies. Shame on you.
Trump doesn’t care about fake news. He lies with impunity. He only cares about negative news about himself which he terms as fake. It is really qxxxuite amazing how his supporters will never cease to justify and excuse away his abhorent and repulsive acts.
Crazykanoiy
Can you cite an example of this “lie with impunity” you speak of? Or is it that you just can’t come to terms with the fact that he is outsmarting and outplaying the crooked media at every level and has been since the beginning of his campaign?
More lies from the degenerate in chief.
Anon: how about “no one in my campaign spoke to Russians”? Everybody and their brother spoke to Russians, proven by their own admission.
Rt
Well of course ppl may have “spoken” to ppl that are Russians. But not in collusion with the Kremlin. I hope you understand the difference.
Just a mistake in communication.